Lessons from Selling a House

We realize we are really lucky to have "sold" our house in less than a week.  So it's silly to complain about keeping the house clean when we only had to make it look like no one actually lives in our house about 6 times.  But, honestly, even that was difficult.  Partly because professionals in this business do not know how to tell time.  They just show up when they feel like it and walk in the door, even if they have an actual appointment an hour and a half later than the time they showed up.  The other factor is the kids...well, the one kid in particular.  I think if I had even 7 kids over the age of 4 it would have been pretty manageable.  It's the little one that makes it so hard.  He appears to exist to destroy and ruin, especially whatever task I just completed.

Here are some other lessons we've learned:
1.  The weeks of painting and cleaning and repairing leading up to putting the house on the market left us physically and emotionally drained....perfect conditions for grouchy parents and inconsiderate spouses.  This only got worse as we actually got the house on the market and started house hunting ourselves.  Really crappy time for our family.
2.  The one thing that made our old house look really clean and fresh was washing the windows inside and out.  Keeping them clean with a dog and toddler in house was futile.  On the days we had showings, I'd load everyone in the car and make one last run through the house to clean smudgy windows.
3. The whole anonymous negotiation process through realtors seems funny to me.  Same as the conspicuous drive-bys by the buyers who are trying so hard to be inconspicuous.  Just pull over and talk to us, for goodness sake.
4. Do not cling tightly to anything, including the lovely stainless steel fridge with a bottom freezer drawer and ice maker that your husband bought you for your birthday.  It will likely be sacrificed to the sale.  And the one left with the house you buy will have an uncanny resemblance to the ug-o fridge you cursed all those years before you were given the lovely stainless steel one.
5.  Do not get too excited about getting a contract for your asking price...before your appraisal.  Appraisals are tricky business in a slow real estate market.  There weren't many houses to compare ours to.  Unfortunately, our appraisal came in $5,000 less than our asking price.  This actually wasn't too hard to swallow.  We were pretty shocked to get our asking price.
6.  Pray for the family buying the house.  It makes it seem like we're all on the same side, working toward the same end goal.  This has made us more willing to take care of repairs and maintenance because we desire their happiness in our old house.  Right now we are praying for their finances as that's pretty much the last step in this process.  For some reason I've found it more difficult to pray for the family whose house we are trying to buy.  Maybe because they've already kicked us out of our contract once.
7.  No matter how many times people congratulate us, we will not feel confident that our house is sold until we sign the papers at closing.  Things happen.